Treatment strategies for patients over 80 years of age with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Objective

To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma aged ≥80 years, focusing on surgical treatments.

Study design

We reviewed patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma aged ≥80 years who underwent surgery between 2005 and 2018. Basic information, comorbidities, multiple primary cancers, initial treatment, complications, and outcomes were evaluated.

Results

Of 197 patients aged ≥80 years, 119 patients underwent surgery (50 males, 69 females; mean age: 83.5 years). The gingiva was the most common primary tumor site (63 patients, 52.9 %). The stage classification was stage I in 35 patients (29.4 %), stage II in 44 (37 %), stage III in 16 (13.4 %), stage IVA in 22 (18.5 %), and stage IVB in 2 (1.7 %). Comorbidities were identified in 112 patients (94.1 %). Surgery was the initial treatment in 111 patients (93.3 %). Eight (6.7 %) patients received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy; 20 patients (16.8 %) underwent free tissue transplantation. Perioperative complications were observed in 36 patients (30.3 %). The cumulative 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 82 % and 68.3 %, respectively; the disease-specific survival rates were 90 %.

Conclusion

Good treatment outcomes were obtained with radical surgery. Surgery should be the first choice if quality of life is assured and there are no issues with surgical tolerance, regardless of age.